Brand Versus Odom The Real Matchup Here

LOS ANGELES — The Bulls and Clippers have very little to showcase this season, with the exception of a few promising rookies.

Sunday night's matchup at the Staples Center will feature Rookie of the Year candidates Elton Brand and Lamar Odom.

Brand, the Bulls' 6-foot-8-inch, 260-pound power forward from Duke, is averaging 18.1 points and 9.9 rebounds a game, ranking second and first in those categories, respectively, among rookies.

The Clippers' Odom, who plays three positions, is averaging 17 points and 8.1 rebounds to rank third and second, respectively. Each player is blocking slightly more than 1.5 shots a game.

"Lamar is very versatile," Brand said of his fellow New Yorker. "He can shoot the ball. He's 6-10 and a good player."

Brand, the Bulls' most consistent player, tries not to get caught up in comparisons with other top rookies such as Odom and Houston's Steve Francis, the top rookie scorer with an 18.5 average.

"I make sure I don't," Brand said. "I just play my game. I'm not trying to go into anything individual. Maybe if they were all power forwards I would try to go at them a little more, but I'm trying to play team ball."

The Bulls' Ron Artest was not selected for next weekend's All-Star rookie game, but he has been an impressive two-way player, averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while playing sturdy defense.

"I think Ron is really helping himself of late," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "Elton has received so much attention, and rightfully so. But in Ron's case, if selections had been made this week for that rookie game, I can't imagine them leaving him out. I think he's one of the top five rookies in this league. I really believe that.

"Any consideration he gets for the all-defensive team would be justified, and I'm not talking about the rookie team. I'm talking about overall. He has been outstanding. He has been so versatile as a defender, guarding terrific talents. He has grown quickly in that area, and offensively he is growing as well."

Packed and ready: Toni Kukoc is taking trade rumors in stride, hoping to go to a contending team if he is dealt.

"If you're playing for a very good basketball team and you heard rumors about going from that team to something that was below .500, that would be stressful," Kukoc said. Kukoc said he would not mind playing for former Bulls coach Phil Jackson and the Lakers.

"Why not? I don't think that would be any problem," he said.

Overconfident? The Bulls were blown out by lowly Vancouver on Friday night despite 27 points from Kukoc. He had 23 in the first half and went scoreless in the fourth quarter.

"That proves one more time that this is a team sport and the team has to play," Kukoc said. "I started to play outside. I thought I was going to be more on the block. I thought we were successful when I was on the block, but it didn't work out in the second half."

Promises, promises: The Dallas Mavericks, who signed former Bull Dennis Rodman last week, are making several concessions for the veteran forward, allowing him to come later to practices and games, ride an exercise bike behind the bench and live in a condominium owned by new club owner Mark Cuban.

Asked if he would be willing to make such compromises for a player, Floyd said:

"For a great talent, if he has a strong personality, there's always give and take. When it gets to a point when it's a distraction, then you have to assess where you are with any situation. But we haven't had to deal with any strong personalities since I've been here."